Buttonhole and method of making buttonholes



April 7, 1953 H. A. MOE 2,633,618

BUTTONHOLE AND METHOD OF MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed Dec. 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fug. 3)

Fig. 4

* HERMAN A. MOE III/111ml!!! a 3 INVENTOR;

Fig.5 BY W April 7, 1953 H. A. MOE 2,633,618

BUTTONHOLE AND METHOD OF MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed Dec. 11, 1944 F'i g. IO

Fig. I

Fig. l2

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 40 Vzwmf I/l.

Fig. l8

HERMAN A. MOE

INVENTOR.

April 7,1953 'A MOE 2,633,618

BUTTONHOLE AND METHOD OF MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed Dec. 11, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet a Fig. 22 HERMAN A. MOE

INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 BUTTONHOLE AND METHOD OF MAKING BUTTONHOLES Herman A. Moe, Warwick, R. I., assignor to Better Products, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application December 11, 1944, Serial No. 567,601

Thi invention relates to new and useful improvements in garments and the like and has particular relation to buttonholes for garments and to methods of making buttonholes.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a shirt having buttonholes in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, showing a step in the method of forming the buttonhole of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a further step;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a portion of a garment having several buttonholes made simultaneously, in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a step in a slightly difierent method of making buttonholes;

Fig. 8 is a view similar toFig. '7 and showing a further step in the sam method;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan View showing a step in another method of making buttonholes in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a preformed part to be used in practicing the method of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a variation of the part of Fig. 11; I

Fig. 13 is an edge or side elevational view of the part of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view showings. further step in the method of Fig. 10

Fig. 15 is a sectional view through the finished product made by the method of Figs. 1014;

Fig. 16- is a sectional view through a piece of 4 Claims. (01. 24-202) fabric having parts applied and illustrating a step I in a variation of the method illustrated in Figs. ill-15;

Fig. 17 is a similar view illustrating a further step in the method of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view through the finished- Fig. 20 is a. sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

. Fig. 21 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 20 but of the finished product;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view of a buttonhole through a material including a plurality of layers, the layers being all adheredin the vicinity of the buttonhole or in a zone about the buttonhole by the method of making the latter;

Fig. 23 is a, view illustrating the method of Fig. 21 when applied to a material including a plurality of layers;

Fig. 24 is a plan View showing a new buttonhole shape; and

Fig. 25 is a similar view showing another buttonhole shape. 7

Referring in detail to the drawings the shirt lil shown in Fig. 1 is provided with buttons H and buttonholes [2, the latter being constructed according to the invention and by a method to be hereinafter disclosed. Shirt I0 is shown merely to represent any garment or any piece of material so that its structure, aside from the buttonholes I2, is of no importance here. The buttonholes of the invention may be applied to any garment or to a piece of material which may later be applied to a garment to provide the same with buttonholes. For example, the buttonholes of the invention may be formed in a strip of material to be later sewed or otherwise attached to an edge of a garment.

Referring now to Figs. 2 through 5 at 13 is shown a portion of any material and it may be a piece of a garment or a part of a strip or the like later to be attached to an edge of a garment. When making a buttonhole in accordance with the invention a hole I4 is formed, as, for example, punched in the piece I3. The hole It may be of the desired size and shape. After hole ls has been formed the material I3 is impregnated with a plastic in a zone extending about the hole. This is suggested by the line IS in Fig. 3 and the impregnated area is defined by said line and is designated [6.

After the hole I4 has been formed through the material [3 the plastic may be applied in either liquid or powdered form or as one or a pair of preformed pieces although the method of using the preformed pieces orpiece will later be collsidered in detail. After the plastic is applied it is by heat and/or pressure caused to enter the material l3 in the zone It so that such portion of the material is impregnated with the plastic. This impregnation is suggested by the stippling effect in thesectionalviews Figs. 4 and 5. The

molding operation involving the use of heat and pressure also results in the formation of a thin film of the plastic over the outer surface of the zone l6 and also over the edges of the opening or hole Id. The film on the outer surfaces of zone 16 is designated l1 and that portion of the film over the edges of the opening I4 is designated I8 and is best seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

Where the material I3 is a woven or other type fabric formed of threads it will be seen that the impregnation of its zone portion IE about the buttonhole M by the plastic serves to bind. to-. gether the threads and the thread ends about hole. Film I! formed over thearea or zone" [6 and the film portion l8 over or'about the. edges.

of the hole l4 further serve to bind in and pro.- tect and reenforce any loose threads or'threa'd ends. Variousplastics may be used for my present purpose and st tor them willbe'mentioned hereinafter. The plastic used may be colorless or it may be of the color of the material l3 jor of a color to contrast therewith. Sharp, bright contrasts may be obtined particularly for use in sport clothes.

"Plasticizers and inhibitors may be combined with the plastic used to'render and maintain the same flexible. Generally the film l'l l8 is very thin so as not to make the buttonhole stifi and/or bulky; In addition to covering and sealing in the threads about the edges of the holetheplastic provides a wear portion of long useful liiefand one that will not fray and become ragged in appearance; That is, the" usual thread binding applied to buttonholes is omittedand this is a savings in "effort and in addition eliminates the portion which normally v first wears so that the buttonholes' of the invention remain sharp and neat in appearance for the life of the garment.

Fig. 6 shows a piece or strip of material 2i provided with three buttonholes. 2!. This figure is merely to illustrate that a plurality oi the buttonholes of the invention may be simultaneously made, that all of the three ho1es 2l may b'emade at one time and in factall the buttonholes along an edge ofa garment may be simul taneo'usly made. Where it is desiredor deemed best the holes of a. garment ,aremade; all atone time; i i

In Fig. 6 the buttonholesll were first punched or otherwise formedin thematerial 20 andthereafter the plastic was applied to the zones: 22 about each such hole and wa ty heat and/or pressure or otherwise molded in place. In the molding operation or the operation wherein the plastic is caused to impregnate and adhereto and. form a film over the materialin' the zones 22 and about the edges of the holes 2|, the plastic film may be molded to simulate threads Thus in Fig. 6 the films onv theouter surfaces of zones 22 .and as they enterthe holes 2| are moldedor formed with lines 23,.tosimulate threads. matter of simulating threads may be carriedout in the methoddisclosed in, connectionwithathe Figs. 2 through and in the otherv methods. to.

be hereinafter disclosed.

Referring now to Figs 'l through-9 according to the method there disclosed a pieceoi ma: terial 25, as a portion of a garment, is impreg:

nated with plastic material in a restricted zone 28. The plastic may be applied in either apow dered or liquid form and is caused to enter into.

and impregnate the material inthe zone 26. The

' and. thus. the threads at the edges of the hole and the thread ends at such edges are bound in place by the set plastic. This presence of the plastic entirely about the edges of the buttonliole 2! is illustrated by the stippling effect in Fig. 9

The plastic used in the method disclosed in connection with Figs. 7-, 8 and 9 is the same as that mentioned in connection with the figures first described and may be 'colored or not and depending on the particular plastic employed will contain plasticizers, inhibitors, fillers, etc. Aside. from the fact that the formed film 28 in this modification is formed only on the two outer surfaces of the zone 26 and not aboutthe, edges of the opening 2? as in th'e'case of the film portion l8 irl Figs. l and 5, when the hole ll-is punched, no film is formed about the edges of such hole although a filmmay beformed about said edge by having the punch heated or by the insertion of a heated form into the opening after the latter is made.

Figs. 10 through 15 illustratea further method of making the buttonhole of the invention, In these figures 38 is a pieceotmaterial, as a por tion of a garment. 'A hole St is punched or otherwise formed in the material 3?}; Thereafter a pair of preformed pieces of plastic material are placed against opposite sides of the material 36 molded to it. Such pieces maybelrectangular, as'the piece. 32 of Figs. 11 and 13, or it may be oval or otherwise curved as is theQpiece 33 of Fig. 12.

Each of these pieces is perforated as at as, the.

perforations being preferably of the shapewand size of the hole 3 l through the piece of material 3t. As above suggested the pieces Mai-emailed against opposite sidesoi the material 3D and in. Fig ld ivith the perforations 3 l o'ffsuchv pieces in registration or. substant ally, in registration with the hole 31. Then through the application of heat and/or pressure) asin a. molding opelfa:. tion, the pieces 32 (or the pieces 33m; .anyotheii.

shape desired) are molded to the material 30.

The pieces areadhered tothe. material, andsqme,

of the plastic offthe Pieces is formedinto. the

material 30 adjacent the edges of, thefhole and in fact to the edges ct such hole as suggested-by the stippling 35 in Fig. 15. At this sametime,

e bl as iqv n r quit thin wh r by-net to be bulky and whereby. the garment having the;

buttonhole may be easily buttoned and unbuttoned. Clearly the piecesadhere to the material 3!? and serve to protectthesame about the hole.

3i and prevent fraying of. the material of; the

garment about, such hole The pieces .or preforms may be ,coloredifjdesired. and contain plasticizers and inhibitors. Thesmaterial of 1 the preforins' impregnating the material 30 as. .at;.35..

bind in 9.11 threads and thread ends at the edges ofthe hole 3]. 'As in the instance of the form shown in Fig. 6 the buttonhole of the other figures thus far described may be formed with grooves or ribs in their plastic films to simulate binding threads. That is ridges or grooves may be molded into the films ll, '28 and 32 to simulate the threads of the usual thread binding.

, Referring now to the method of Figs. l6, l7

and 18 a piece of material is there designated.

48. According to this methoda pair of pieces or preforms M of a plastic material are applied one to each side of the material 40. Preforms 4| are not perforated and are of any chosen size and shape. After the preforms are in place a hole 62 is made through them and the material 40 leaving the parts asin Fig. 1'7.

Thereafter heat and pressure are used to force the plastic into the material 4!) in a zone about the hole 42 and the plastic impregnations thus accomplished extends from the edges of such hole for a slight distance about the same as determined by the sizes of the preforms used. This treatment brings about the structure illustrated in Fig. 18 wherein the preforms no longer exist but the material of them has been heated to flow and has been forced into and is impregnating the material 4B but provides a thin film 43 on the surfaces of the material 40. All threads and thread ends of the material 40 at the edges of the hole 42 are held in place by the plastic functioning as a binder and also forming a film 44 over such edge.

Substantially the same results may be obtained by causing the preforms to flow into the material from the positions of Fig. 16 and thereafter the hole 42 may be formed through the impregnated zone of the material 40 and in such instance, the step suggested at Fig. 17 is omitted and the process is somewhat the same as that disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the plastic being applied as a piece rather than in powdered or liquid form.

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 suggest a somewhat different method. According to that method a hole 45 is formed in a piece of material 46 and then a pair of preforms 41 are disposed one at each side I,

of the material 46 and each such preform includes a flange-like portion 48 disposed against an outerside of the material 46 and a necklike portion 49 entering the hole 45. Such necklike portions are tubular and entering from opposite sides of material 46 abut intermediate the sides of the latter as suggested in Fig. 20.

After this assembly is made the same is treated to a molding operation and under heat and some pressure the preforms are forced to the positions or conditions of Fig. 21 which is a sectional view through the finished product. In Fig. 21 it is noted that some of the material of the preforms has been caused to impregnate the material 46 as suggested by the stippling at 50. Further the neck-like portions 49 have been caused to flow together and now serve to connect the flange-like portions 48 so that the plastic forms a film over the outer surfaces of the material 46 about the new buttonhole and in addition forms a film over the edges of the material 45 in the hole therethrough. Thus the material about the buttonhole is protected and the threads and thread ends at said hole are effectively sealed in place.

Fig. 22 shows the new construction of buttonhole 54 through a piece of material 55 including a plurality of layers 56, 51 and 58. This construction of buttonhole may be made by methods previously considered. In making buttonhole the material 55 is impregnated in a restricted zone with a plastic and then the buttonhole is punched or otherwise formed. Alternatively the hole may be formed in material 55 and thereafter a restricted zone of the material about such hole may be impregnated with the plastic to protect the material about the buttonhole and to bind in threads and thread ends at the edges of such hole.

Therefore, in the buttonhole- 54 the layers of material at the edges of the hole are bonded together by the impregnating plastic as suggested by the stipplingin Fig. 22.- The plastic may be applied as a powder or a liquid or it may be applied in the form of pieces or preforms as in Figs. 10 through 15 and in Figs. 19-21.

Fig. 23 illustrates a buttonhole 60 formed in a piece of material 6| including a plurality of layers 62, 63 and 64. In this figure the buttonhole 60 has been formed by the method described in connection with Figs. 19-21 and the material 6! about the buttonhole is covered and protected by a film s5 and about the ,edges of the hole therethrough by a film portion 66, it being understood that the film portions 65 and 66 are integral having been made so in the final treatment of the plastic. The stippling at B1 is to illustrate the manner in which some of the plastic shown as a bit wider than the slit-like opening. Materiallfl is reenforced in a restricted zone: l3 beginning at the edges of the opening ll--12v and extending back from such edges. The impregnation and reenforcing of the zone 13 may be accomplished by any of the methods heretofore =described.

Fig. 25 shows a pieceof material 14 having a buttonhole 15 comprising an arcuate portion 16 and lateral end portions 11. This construction is also for ease in buttoning and unbuttoning of 'a garment and the dotted lines show the relation of a button 18 to such buttonhole. A plastic impregnated and reenforced but restricted zone 19 is shown about the buttonhole 15.

In any of the various modifications shown the plastic used may be colored to contrast with or to match the material to which it is applied or it may be colorless as desired. Preferably the plastic should be impervious to water and water and soap whereby not to be softened or destroyed in washing where the garment is subject to washing. Further the plastic may be thermoplastic or thermosetting but in the former case should have a softening point high enough, when used in a garment likely to be laundered, to withstand water of washing temperature and to withstand ironing.

The shape of the film provided over the zones about the buttonholes of a garment is immaterial to the invention. It or they may be round, oval, square, oblong, or other multi-sided shapes and of any desired size. The buttonholes may be formed one at a time or a plurality of them, as all the buttonholes of a single garment, may be formed at one time as suggested in Fig, 6. Between the zones about the buttonholes the matepial is not impregnated 61- fii'ifiv is lidn'gfe'd and, so retains is 11511211 charfitei isfiics, The" forming of ridges '1 groves-te' s'ilfifilit thfeafi is a, feature that may b used as par} 61 91152 of the methods hereindiscles'ed. The bfittonholss of theinvention may} be applied 136 2115 1137116 6f material as woven, 61 kr'iifitd or 1m 176111 tegra pieces, as, 161 iizimiale, pie'cs of leathex ir'i indbreakers, etc.

As above" stated, thepla sfiic used may be thermnpistid 61" thermdstting" 01 mixtures of 17116 Willi!- where the 121721 gives damask-properties. Poly vinyi butyral resin hasbefifund' ds'i'ribl' f6! my present; p'ui-poses although 16 will 56 11111121" stood that the invent i'dn is rich lififited to the use; of such resin. Viflyl aiceoall fesin's' naveany Chariifilistids' fal-Varifig fihir" use it! fih' firesfent invention but many, 611161 resins (if the" vinyl greajlpwnid ef' gather gr'dup may used-.-

Celluibse's may be'fusd as 'w'll as" some of the synthetic elasmrners' and inthiscorinction it is point ed ouii 1112f the 151251316 (156d; Heed n'dt' b S3 11 the'tic sifnce' naturai fesing ma insome iiistances beusedpartieularly whencbm'bined with 011161 materials-L Phenol ibrmaldhyd'e urea forth'a-lde' hyd, melaminefbmialfiehyde, analir'iforxfidide hyd'e'i phenof furf'ura'l compounds; ligr-iinplasfiic' sutistajnces; polystyrene} 113 1011 r'esiris, methyl methacrylst'e' resins; 11%;, may he'- used; 01' th cellulose resins the ethyl cllulo's' is best 101" my purpose;

l; A butt'ohhol'e constructioncbmprisihg mpie'cof pervibus material? having af buttbnh'ole 4:11am"- through; a thiiijfl-xible"plstiq filmin s restfictd zone about-the edges Of said hiit'tqnholsat up; positssides- Qfs'aidmflefigL 'a'fixible plastidem tending entirely tfiroggiithepdrtion'sf of said maiterial. between said-films; mid-said films andwhe' plastic extending through said mater-1211' bet'vve en saidfllms integral. V

2.: The met od 0111;111:111: a b n ol n piece of material" comprising" forming a 1101s through the materiaL then by heat anicfpiressdre' br'ci g a plastic ag inst; intb a d h ulgh S d ma eli'ia'l i a restricteif z ne' eg niiigwitfi'the" and 19m ns Said 11111111117 2 "film over the" ob 8, iasite iitf 11611510153 01' said 2011s at t e iiigttil; I v

3 'ZlI-Ii method of firiishizig a; buttonhole in 11 pi of materialsem rismg unde heat and fifessur foi'c'ing' a, plastic against, into and tfii du'g-h saii material in a istricted zone be ginning with the edges of a hole in said; material andegt siading radially outwardly of said dg'es,

9.11a- 1' 111 ifitegral pbrbifms of s'aidplastid mm $1 Til-111* over th oppositeoutei' surft'c pbrtidns of 4. The method at finishing 8' butfionhole in a; piee of matiial including a. plixyality of layers ebmprising inidef hatand pressure 1017511112 

